Bihar’s tryst with bahubali politics began during the post-Mandal era of 1990s, Former Bihar MLA Anant Singh, the JD(U) candidate from the Mokama seat(R)
Credit: DH Illustration/Deepak Harichandan, PTI Photo
Muzaffarpur: In the political heat during Bihar elections, one familiar figure continues to stride through - the 'Bahubali', which means the muscleman - politician. The Bahubali, once the unmistakable face of power in Bihar, has now traded his rifle for a kurta-clad image makeover. But his essence, which is an amalgamation of populism, influence and most importantly fear - runs deeply in state’s politics.
The recent murder of Dularchand Yadav in Mokama has reignited the debate of muscle power in Bihar politics. A local strongman and Jan Suraaj supporter, Yadav was killed during a violent clash amid campaigning. As per the post-mortem report, cause of death was internal injuries from a blunt object, not a gunshot. After a lot of noise JD(U) candidate and former MLA Anant Singh, who is also a Bahubali, has been arrested along with several others. Yadav’s death has once again exposed how violence continues to shadow Bihar’s elections despite claims of improved governance and stability.
The beginning
Bihar’s tryst with bahubali politics began during the post-Mandal era of 1990s. Local strongmen became parallel power centers due to hardened caste identities and weakened state institutions. For many, Bahubali filled the vacuum that the state had left. Bahubalis started dispensing 'justice', settling disputes, and mobilising caste groups. Bahubali became the 'problem-solver,' when bureaucracy failed or was absent for people.
Anand Mohan Singh in Kosi, Shahabuddin in Siwan, Surajbhan Singh and Anant Singh near Patna, and Pappu Yadav around Purnea-Madhepura, gradually became household names - both feared and admired, and sometimes worshipped too. These dons started by controlling contracts, land, or criminal enterprises at the local level but political immunity is what they needed the most. Apart from immunity, politics also offered some kind of legitimacy and unregulated access to resources that even the most feared gang could not guarantee.
The legitimisation of Muscle
More than their survival, the most curious part of the Bahubali phenomenon in Bihar is their acceptance among people. Almost every party in the state has either fielded or aligned with such figures at some point. When parties feel that local clout of an individual can win them a few seats, pragmatism often trumps principles.
The acceptance was a moral compromise which was based on the premise - 'He may have a criminal past, but he gets work done.' Even as Nitish Kumar’s long rule is being perceived as effective governance and better law & order in the state, the political system continues to accommodate some remnants of the era preceding him.
The New-Age Bahubali
The Bahubali of the 90s has completely transformed. With social and political legitimacy, he speaks of development, attends cultural events, and maintains social media accounts. Despite all this, his clout rests on the same old and time-tested foundations of loyalty, money, and power.
He can be seen distributing flood relief, he can be seen in funny reels, he can be seen giving speeches on harmony and peace in political rallies, but behind the curtain he is doing what he knows the best - maintaining and expanding his empire of fear.
In these elections also, several constituencies still feature candidates or influencers whose reputations are built as much on past notoriety as present pragmatism. Their image has shifted from the crude display of force to a subtler form of control - over local contracts, caste associations, and even the delivery of welfare schemes.
In the present day, these bahubalis have turned politics as their family business and where muscle acts as the generational wealth which only compounds every year. Even if they are not directly involved in politics, they have ensured that wives, sons, brothers, or loyalists become lawmakers, often under major party banners.
Why do voters elect them
It all comes down to the answer to the question - who is the saviour? Often, the answer is not State. It's the local strongman. The support base for bahubalis is a result of loyalty, caste allegiance, and missing or weak institutions. People often feel it as a safe option to align with the strongmen of their caste. It's like a social security against land mafias, criminals, extortionists, but these strongmen too are the same but for other communities.
The 90s conditioned the people in a way that they started to believe that muscle is the real strength.
Bahubalis created their aura by muscle but maintain it through ballot now. The muscle may have softened, but the mind of the bahubali - the instinct to command loyalty through control - still lingers in Bihar’s political bloodstream.